RE: PH Heroes: AC Cobra
Discussion
215cu said:
Love it.
Big Yank V8 and British Chassis in car terms for me is as quinessentially British as Fish and Chips.
Interesting combination.Big Yank V8 and British Chassis in car terms for me is as quinessentially British as Fish and Chips.
Here's the story about the one that got away at the time.
It was Ginetta's planned competitor to the Cobra, the G10, launched at the 1965 Racing Car Show.
Fitted with the same American Ford 4.7-litre V8 it was built to compete in the US sports car races against the Cobra.
The G10 had it's debut at Brands Hatch on 28 Nov the same year with Chris Meek driving where it trounced the Protheroe lightweight 'low drag' coupe E-type taking a first time out win!
Orders started to come from the USA for this new pretender but to cut a long story short the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) decided in its wisdom that this new car could not go in the Cobra GT category of racing in the States and instead put the G10 into the 'Sports Racing' category (McLarens and Lolas etc).
That was a 'no win' situation, the orders were cancelled and the G10 never got it's chance.
As a bottom line to this, Rod Leach actually owned his own G10 (said to have 430bhp from the 4.7 V8 and also carried his personal registration 4 ROD).
He is said to have described it at the time as:
'the fastest accelerating car he has ever driven - including 7-litre Cobras!'
Another (even earlier) one that got away.
The great Caroll Shelby was a works Aston driver in the late 50s, and drove the DB3S as well as winning le Mans in the DBR1. He had the the Cobra idea but first thought about using the DB3S chassis- the Astons always handled beautifully but were down on power compared to everythign else. David Brown was not too interested, and the DB3S was a pure racing car which would have been expensive to make. So he shopped around..
The great Caroll Shelby was a works Aston driver in the late 50s, and drove the DB3S as well as winning le Mans in the DBR1. He had the the Cobra idea but first thought about using the DB3S chassis- the Astons always handled beautifully but were down on power compared to everythign else. David Brown was not too interested, and the DB3S was a pure racing car which would have been expensive to make. So he shopped around..
It was 30 years ago that I owned the G 10, and certainly at that time it was the quickest accelerating road car that I'd driven.
Since then I've had several cars that would outpace it, the most recent being a 690 bhp 8.4 litre 1966 Mk III 427 Cobra (685 lbs. ft. dyno reading at 4000 rpm!!).
But I reckon that even this might be matched by my Ex Midnight Society Mazda RX7 Esprit which has been tweaked to about 570 bhp. It's otherwise known as 'Rod's Folly' (we all need one) due to the ridiculous amount of hard-earned cash I've pumped into it, and now having reached 'Sergeant Pepper' age, it scares the s---t out of me!
Rod Leach.
Since then I've had several cars that would outpace it, the most recent being a 690 bhp 8.4 litre 1966 Mk III 427 Cobra (685 lbs. ft. dyno reading at 4000 rpm!!).
But I reckon that even this might be matched by my Ex Midnight Society Mazda RX7 Esprit which has been tweaked to about 570 bhp. It's otherwise known as 'Rod's Folly' (we all need one) due to the ridiculous amount of hard-earned cash I've pumped into it, and now having reached 'Sergeant Pepper' age, it scares the s---t out of me!
Rod Leach.
I always lust at the Nostalgia advert in MotorSport or wherever I come across it and was surprised a couple of years ago to see a white RX7 capable of 200mph. It was for sale but seemed expensive but strangely mesmorising! (I bought an ordinary one) I guess it wasn't sold. What is it worth now?? (As opposed to money spent...)
Back to Cobras - do they really have transverse leaf springs? I'd be happy with a triple carbed Ford Zodiac engined AC but they are arms and legs too. The Bristol engine is OK but not really powerful enough.
Back to Cobras - do they really have transverse leaf springs? I'd be happy with a triple carbed Ford Zodiac engined AC but they are arms and legs too. The Bristol engine is OK but not really powerful enough.
PATTERNPART said:
I always lust at the Nostalgia advert in MotorSport or wherever I come across it and was surprised a couple of years ago to see a white RX7 capable of 200mph. It was for sale but seemed expensive but strangely mesmorising! (I bought an ordinary one) I guess it wasn't sold. What is it worth now?? (As opposed to money spent...)
Back to Cobras - do they really have transverse leaf springs? I'd be happy with a triple carbed Ford Zodiac engined AC but they are arms and legs too. The Bristol engine is OK but not really powerful enough.
Only early Coras had transverse leaf springs, later ones had coils.Back to Cobras - do they really have transverse leaf springs? I'd be happy with a triple carbed Ford Zodiac engined AC but they are arms and legs too. The Bristol engine is OK but not really powerful enough.
Nothing wrong with the Bristol engine at all, 120bhp (I think) as supplied to AC and more available with tuning. Of course it takes lots of work and expense to get the Bristol six to produce the same power a Ford V8 would produce as standard...
VladD said:
Awesome.
Think the AC Ace is far prettier though.
Intereting comment in the article.
"Bloke who sells Cobras says 'No, they won't kill you'".
"but the owner ordered it to be rebuilt from his hospital bed"Think the AC Ace is far prettier though.
Intereting comment in the article.
"Bloke who sells Cobras says 'No, they won't kill you'".
It's the only car I can think of that would tempt me out of my TVR.
I know that some replica Cobra's may equal, or even better an original.
And yet I can't help feeling that with the TVR I have the real (TVR) thing. Unless I had a real, original Cobra it somehow wouldn't feel the same.
pjevo said:
Dream Car!
I remember going around an original in Goodwood many years ago and burning my leg on the exhaust as I got out....
Look at this bad boy found in the classifieds:- http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/300388.htm
I LOVE LIFE ME...HOW MANIC IS THIS...IT LOOKS ABSOLUTLY STUNNING IN A VIOLENT SORT OF WAY...THIS CAN DO 0-100 KMH IN 2.9 SECONDS,0-200KMH IN 4.9 SECONDS AND THEN 0-300KMH IN 10 SECS(THATS AROUND 190MHP IN 10 SECS,MINT)AN FI CAR CAN DO 0-200KMH IN 4.5 SECS AND A 1000 GSXR CAN DO 0-200KMH IN 7 SECS...THE WORLDS STRONGEST AND FASTEST ACCELERATING CAR IN THE WORLD,AND ITS ROAD LEGAL,EQUIPPED WITH A 12.9LTR ENGINE NATURALLY ASPIRATED V8(I CANT STOP SMILIMG AT HOW MAD THIS CAR IS)..IM TOLD IT GENERATES 809KW/1100HP...ONLY 15 WILL BE MADE AND 10 ARE SOLD BOTH IN RIGHT AND LEFT HAND DRIVE...NOW I KNOW WE WANT TO PROTECT THE PLANET FROM MACHINES LIKE THESE BUT GO ON,LIVE A LITTLE...PRICE 130,000 EUROS TO 250,000 EUROS DEPENDING ON HOW MENTAL YOU WANT IT...
Think I'd be a little bit concerned about buying a 12.9 litre "Special" from an outfit called "Realboystoys Ltd" quoting only a mobile tel.no. I remember going around an original in Goodwood many years ago and burning my leg on the exhaust as I got out....
Look at this bad boy found in the classifieds:- http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/300388.htm
I LOVE LIFE ME...HOW MANIC IS THIS...IT LOOKS ABSOLUTLY STUNNING IN A VIOLENT SORT OF WAY...THIS CAN DO 0-100 KMH IN 2.9 SECONDS,0-200KMH IN 4.9 SECONDS AND THEN 0-300KMH IN 10 SECS(THATS AROUND 190MHP IN 10 SECS,MINT)AN FI CAR CAN DO 0-200KMH IN 4.5 SECS AND A 1000 GSXR CAN DO 0-200KMH IN 7 SECS...THE WORLDS STRONGEST AND FASTEST ACCELERATING CAR IN THE WORLD,AND ITS ROAD LEGAL,EQUIPPED WITH A 12.9LTR ENGINE NATURALLY ASPIRATED V8(I CANT STOP SMILIMG AT HOW MAD THIS CAR IS)..IM TOLD IT GENERATES 809KW/1100HP...ONLY 15 WILL BE MADE AND 10 ARE SOLD BOTH IN RIGHT AND LEFT HAND DRIVE...NOW I KNOW WE WANT TO PROTECT THE PLANET FROM MACHINES LIKE THESE BUT GO ON,LIVE A LITTLE...PRICE 130,000 EUROS TO 250,000 EUROS DEPENDING ON HOW MENTAL YOU WANT IT...
Rod Leach said:
It was 30 years ago that I owned the G 10, and certainly at that time it was the quickest accelerating road car that I'd driven.
Since then I've had several cars that would outpace it, the most recent being a 690 bhp 8.4 litre 1966 Mk III 427 Cobra (685 lbs. ft. dyno reading at 4000 rpm!!).
But I reckon that even this might be matched by my Ex Midnight Society Mazda RX7 Esprit which has been tweaked to about 570 bhp. It's otherwise known as 'Rod's Folly' (we all need one) due to the ridiculous amount of hard-earned cash I've pumped into it, and now having reached 'Sergeant Pepper' age, it scares the s---t out of me!
Rod Leach.
Nice to see a post on here from the man himself. Welcome -seen your ads numerous times and it's guys like you that make us motoring enthusiasts the nutters we are! Unfortunately I'm not in that price bracket but keep it up for (yourself and,) those that are. Since then I've had several cars that would outpace it, the most recent being a 690 bhp 8.4 litre 1966 Mk III 427 Cobra (685 lbs. ft. dyno reading at 4000 rpm!!).
But I reckon that even this might be matched by my Ex Midnight Society Mazda RX7 Esprit which has been tweaked to about 570 bhp. It's otherwise known as 'Rod's Folly' (we all need one) due to the ridiculous amount of hard-earned cash I've pumped into it, and now having reached 'Sergeant Pepper' age, it scares the s---t out of me!
Rod Leach.
smash said:
Heard that Tuscan Dax was a do . . . somewhat troublesome *ahem*
Only 8/10 Hero rating because he didn't actually drive one?
Only 8/10 Hero rating because he didn't actually drive one?
Who did'nt drive one? It was my car for over 3yrs, When I bought it, it needed a lot of work, you find this out the hard way! Also certan so called specialist mechanics rip you off when working on anything non standard (as i found out at great cost) One guy even went bust with my car locked inside his workshop, He had even used bits from my car to test on other customers cars!!, Luckly for me we managed to get the car out before the recivers whent in! 
When the car left Chengs it was Mint with everything finaly sorted out, This included complete re-spray, new wiring harness, new brake and clutch reservoirs, 4 new Delorto DRLA 48 Carbs, new Air-Equpe Braded Hoses, 4 brand new immage wheel rims, trouble was the missus would not let me keep it sold it to Soverign Cars They then did a 5 page article on the car in Kit car magazine ( Jan 06 )Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 7th April 12:03
Woah! I meant Oli S who wrote the PH Heroes review probably only gave 8/10 for the Cobra cos he didn't get the real experience from driving one! We all know it should've scored a perfect 10!
I bought the first cobra I went to see - then promptly blew the engine (lost 50% of the piston skirt on one cylinder) followed by shearing the output shaft in half on the Toploader box racing a bike! Expensive lessons learned (sods law I had the 'weak' '64 Toploader!). Ended up respraying the car completely, retrimming, deblinging - should've just bought the right car in the first place! My heart still hasn't learned it's lesson as my latest Noble P4 purchase proves . . .
I bought the first cobra I went to see - then promptly blew the engine (lost 50% of the piston skirt on one cylinder) followed by shearing the output shaft in half on the Toploader box racing a bike! Expensive lessons learned (sods law I had the 'weak' '64 Toploader!). Ended up respraying the car completely, retrimming, deblinging - should've just bought the right car in the first place! My heart still hasn't learned it's lesson as my latest Noble P4 purchase proves . . .
Edited by smash on Monday 7th April 12:43
sprinter885 said:
Just a thought-anybody know what happened to that tasty looking burgundy Cobra rep that Mark whatisname built on the Men & Motors/Discovery Channel program? That had nice big block motor, Edelbrock heads etc.. can't remember name of damn program now. Grrrrr
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